Cavaliers fall behind 3-0

The Cleveland Cavaliers controlled most of the first half and seemed to have things going their way for a victory that would be the tightener for the NBA championship series, but a late half spurt by the visiting Golden State Warriors allowed them to keep the game close at the half and then the defense that stopped most of the Warriors other than Kevin Durant in the first half, sprung a leak in the second half.

The leak didn't take the Cavaliers out of the game, but an inability to stop Kevin Durant did and when Durant hit a three-pointer from Akron with less than a minute to play, the chance at a series-changing win was dead.
Seconds later, it was Golden State taking the 110-102 decision and with it a 3-0 lead in the series.
In other words, it's over, it's just a matter of whether it is needed to take one more trip to Oakland to end it.

LeBron James led Cleveland with 33 points, Kevin Love added 20 points and the return of Rodney Hood score him score 15 points off the bench.
Game four is Friday night in Cleveland.

Swashbucklings

1) In this one, there aren't a lot of things that you can blame (other than not being strong enough on defense) other than the better team won.
This series might have been won two summers ago when Golden State signed Kevin Durant.
These teams were closely matched before that signing.
Now, they aren't that close at all and it takes a standout game from Cleveland and a slightly off night from the Warriors to keep it close.
Thanks, NBA.

2) Even the Cleveland defense, which usually isn't terrific managing to scrape together a nice night in holding Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson to poor shooting nights.
The pair shot 7 for 27 from the floor and combined for just 21 points-nights like that should give you a chance to win.
On this night-Cleveland had a chance, but it wasn't enough.

3) That doesn't mean that the defense is still anywhere near average and when the Warriors move the ball around, the Cavaliers consistently find themselves out of position.
They just don't have the athletes to stick with the Warriors weapons and some Cavaliers just don't keep their wits about them enough to be in the right place.

4) Cleveland did use Rodney Hood for the first time since the Clinton administration and he responded with not only 15 points, but some unexpected energy too.
Hood could have made a difference in game one (If motivated) I think and it'll be interesting to see if he can play well again in game four.

5) I've always liked the shooting skills of Kyle Korver, but either the Warriors defense him well or he has issues of some type because he just doesn't shoot well against them.
Korver played just eleven minutes but was zero for four.
When you have just one elite skill, one can't afford to slump.

6) I don't want to talk LeBron James future yet, but he has to look at this team and wonder if the future to contend in Cleveland is finished.
Having turned Kyrie Irving into a collection of mismatched parts, I cannot imagine as James looks around that he feels confident with a team with salary cap issues can make enough changes to turn the tide.
Other than the number eight pick and maybe Kevin Love, Cleveland lacks the assets to otherwise make a lot of moves.
If there is one factor that could cause James to leave Lake Erie, that is more than likely at the top of the list...

Cavaliers swindled in Game 1 overtime loss!

The Cleveland Cavaliers couldn't have asked for much more than they received from themselves in game one at the usually raucous Oracle Arena in Oakland.
Cleveland gained even more than usual from LeBron James with 51 points, eight assists and eight rebounds and Kevin Love added 21 and with under forty seconds to go, the Cavaliers held a two-point lead and possession of the basketball and looked to be in position for a stunning upset.

The usually inept NBA referees stepped in and changed the perception after a consultation, which set a parade of events together cost Cleveland victory and could weaken them in game two.
First, LeBron James forced Kevin Durant into a charging foul that the referees looked and changed the call into a blocking call on James.
This allowed Durant to hit two free throws to tie the game and that was a huge swing in momentum towards the home team in an awful call that saw the arbiters reason that James was "not in a legal guarding position" outside the restricted zone.
Most observers not in Warrior blue felt otherwise and thereafter the game was scarred with controversy.

Following a James layup and a Stephen Curry score and free throw, Golden State led by one with Cleveland holding the ball for the potential last shot of the game.
James drilled a pass toward the basket and a cutting George Hill for the layup and lead.
A beaten Klay Thompson had no choice but to grab Hill and put him on the line with just under five seconds to play.
Hill nailed the first free throw to tie the game but came up painfully short on the second shot, which would have given Cleveland the lead.
However, J.R.Smith had slid under Kevin Durant for the rebound and had a chance for the putback, which likely would have meant victory.
It would not have been a sure thing as Smith would have to have laid the ball in over the taller Durant, but there was an opportunity for sure.
Instead, Smith "took the ball back" almost like in a bizarre scene out of a half-court pickup game, ate the time away and the Cavaliers chance for a win escaped like air from a balloon as the game headed to overtime.

Usually, in these situations going into overtime, it plays out like this-the underdog is fatigued by the effort and the better team pulls away and that's exactly what happened as Golden State took the 124-114 win.
In a game that that could have been remembered for so much more, it'll be remembered for awful officiating, unwarranted replays and an addle-minded decision by J.R.Smith.

Swashbucklings

1) Just cannot get past the decision to look at the block/charge call.
James was clearly outside the area that he is required to be in to use a replay review to begin with and then to change the call based on James movement (He held position) might have been changed in a game before, but I've never seen it and to pick this time???

2) And to top that off, the play not only shouldn't have been changed but not even reviewed because to activate a review-James must be in the restricted area and he clearly was not.

3) LeBron James became the first player to score over 50 points in the NBA Finals and lose.
James did all of this with one eye, after being poked in the first quarter by noted clean defender Draymond Green.

4) J.R. Smith's simply head-thumping decision to run out the clock is just beyond words to write about.
However, Smith has made a career of these types of plays and considering how he has played this season, why was I not surprised.
It's too bad though because just getting the offensive rebound was a hustle play and was quickly forgotten after his "Webber" like mistake.

5) Don't forget another Smith mistake at the end of the first half, where Smith ridiculously left Stephen Curry alone by going for a steal at mid-court.
Curry then calmly drained an uncontested thirty footer to tie the game at the half.
Awful.

6) I'm generally not an officiating whiner, but this game was bad.
When Steve Kerr AND Draymond Green both are quoted as "We caught a break"-that tells you all you need to know.

7) The end of the game scuffle between Tristan Thompson and Draymond Green needs to be forgotten about by the league for both players.
Considering how the game was called, frustration is inevitable and after watching, the league needs to pass on suspensions.

8) This game wasn't just lost, it was given away by officials and players.
On one hand, I am hopeful that the Cavaliers have proven that they can play with the Warriors.
On the other, game two might be ugly as it's going to be tough to bounce back from a crusher like this Sunday night..

LeBron James and the Cavaliers

Watching the 2018 postseason and wondering just how it is that the Cleveland Cavaliers have completed their fourth straight run to the Eastern Conference title on the eve of game one of the NBA finals has been a full day of pondering here and even though I'm very

short on time, I wanted to get a few sentences down.

Do I think that the Cavaliers have a chance of upsetting the Golden State Warriors in the championship round?
Sure, but that chance is what in boxing is called a puncher's chance.,which basically means it's highly
unlikely, but that the underdog does have a chance of scoring the knockout if everything falls perfectly.
Why only a puncher's chance?
Well, considering the struggles in getting by an average Indiana team in seven games and seven more against a Boston squad with injury issues and inexperience and you can see why the Cavaliers deserve to be underdogs despite looking sharp in the semi-finals in dispatching top-seeded Toronto in four straight.

Even as a Cavaliers fan, I cannot logically come up with one reason to pick them over the Warriors except one- LeBron James.
For the play of James in these three series has been beyond what anyone could expect from even the best player in the game and that alone gives Cleveland that puncher's chance.
I usually don't like to make declarative statements about the great players of any game as far as just who is the best, that after all is a matter of players and the times that they played in, but I'll make a stretch and call this one- If LeBron James can lift this bunch of the Cavaliers to an NBA championship, I'm ready to say that he has become the best player ever in NBA history even over Michael Jordan.
MJ and LBJ truly are different types of players and deserve to be on their own equal pedestal, but Jordan will never have delivered what James has the chance to do in this series-bring an underdog to victory over a powerful opponent and to do almost by himself.

James has used the occasional odd game from the supporting cast (Jeff Green in game seven vs the Celtics for an example) to help himself out a bit, but he's been playing almost every minute and that has to eventually take its toll unless someone is able to pick up their play to take even a small amount of pressure off James.
No matter the results of this series, this might be the best run of basketball that I've seen and it's been something special to see-now can he do it one more time and against one of the best teams ever?

Praying for the miracle, but this time I'm picking with the head.
Warriors in six...

Cavaliers season ends in Oakland-drop series in five

The most likely event in sports finished in Oakland as the Golden State Warriors finished the championship reign of the Cleveland Cavaliers 129-120 in game five of the NBA Finals.
LeBron James led Cleveland with 41 points,Kyrie Irving and J.R.Smith each provided support with 26 and 25 points respectively.
I won't be doing too many bullet points on the actual game,but I'll be adding comments on other issues in the league and team as well.

Swashbucklings

1) The play that most Cavaliers fans will remember this game for -the slam dunk by LeBron James over Kevin Durant that saw Durant clearly foul James for no call.
Had that call been made,it would have been the third foul on Durant,he likely would have sat the rest of the half and the Warriors wouldn't had his major role in the late first half run that saw the Warriors outscore Cleveland by 15 in the second quarter..

2) J.R.Smith played well and Tristan Thompson showed up with a strong game,but that wasn't enough to offset Kevin Love's foul plagued six points.
Love's 2 for 8 from the field was a recipe for a loss against a team of the Warriors level..

3) The role players that have been brought in just haven't done their job.
Deron Williams looks to be a spent shell of a player,Kyle Korver has one skill and when it was needed most,he came up short and it might be time for Richard Jefferson to ride into the promised sunset.
I know there are plenty of salary cap and luxury tax issues for the team and it's going to be tough,,but if you want another shot at the Warriors and have a chance to win it,somethings will need to be addressed.

4) Not sure why Derrick Williams and Channing Frye didn't get off the bench.
Especially Williams,who would have matched up well in the up and down game,I think and Frye would have added an outside shooting dynamic that the Cavaliers couldn't have hurt to try things all things considered.

5) The near fight between Tristan Thompson and David West (a long time favorite of mine going back to Xavier) was interesting,but I liked that Thompson stepped in as an enforcer since the issue was between West and Kyrie Irving.
Despite the AAU buddy buddy style that has taken over in the league,there is still room for toughness..

6) Who to add?
Of available players that are free agents,the two dream additions would be Paul George or Chris Paul.
Either would be a talent upgrade,the problem is affording them under the cap.
It's likely to get either (Or another difference maker),it would cost Kevin Love more than likely in a sign and trade deal.
Does that change the dynamic up enough to challenge the Warriors?
Or does it just create another problem?
I'm just not sure..

7) It's still a good season,the Cavaliers just lost to a team that was just a little more talented,which says a lot.
Cleveland will rue game three's loss for a long time as that would have changed the series,but there is no shame in this series loss.

Cavaliers stop History-Win Game Four

The Cleveland Cavaliers zoomed to the lead with 49 point first quarter and never allowed history or the Golden State Warriors to seriously challenge them again as the Cavaliers stayed alive with a 137-116 drubbing in Cleveland in game four of the NBA finals.

LeBron James finished with a triple double (31 pts,10 rebounds,11 assists) with Kyrie Irving supporting James with 40 points and Kevin Love adding 23 more.
Golden State continues to lead the series at 3-1 and the Warriors can end the season Monday in Oakland.


Swashbucklings

1) To say that the Cavaliers were inspired to come out firing early would be a severe understatement.
49 first quarter points-NBA finals record for points in a quarter.
86 first half points-NBA finals record.
That says more than I can type....

2) LeBron James continued to show why he is the best player in the world still-no matter the eventual result of this series,
The overall play of James is what makes him the games top player.
He's not the shooter that Stephen Curry or the pure offensive force of Kevin Durant,but he's good enough at both to dominate on the right night and the other gifts in his game that James possesses far outweighs anything that Curry or Durant does beyond what their strength is.

3) Kyrie Irving's 40 points led the team,but his 15 of 27 was more important (seven three pointers made as well).
Irving is an offensive machine and when he's clicking like he was in this game,few are going to be able to defend him..

4) Loved the ball movement in this game by the Cavaliers.
The ball was kept moving and the Cavaliers didn't fall into the trap of constant isolation of James or Irving going one on five.
Ball movement creates open looks and open looks make complementary players much more likely to contribute..

5) Kevin Love fired in 17 points in the first half and even was a help on defense.
Combine Love with the resurgent games from J.R.Smith and Tristan Thompson and that goes a long way toward a victory.

6) The whole technical foul on Draymond Green/Not on Green thing is the type of thing that makes casual fans,some of which already question NBA basketball being on the level,cringe and wonder.
Put aside whether the technical that was called on Green or not,it looks bad...

7) Nice work by Zaza Pachulia,who will likely miss game five by suspension,for punching Iman Shumpert in the groin.
Add in the resume of Draymond Green and it's no wonder that the Warriors are so disliked.

8) When you are down 3-0 in a series,each game is the most important.
Cleveland came up with a huge effort to avoid the sweep,now they have to have another one in Oakland where they have been blown out twice in the series.
It's unlikely and will take another game of dazzling play to win,but for a second imagine this scenario-If Cleveland wins in Oakland,the series becomes 3-2 and the thoughts of last season has to be on the Warriors mind as they return to Cleveland for game six,where they 'should' have lost both games.
That takes it to game seven and then who knows what happens because then the pressure is all on Golden State,not Cleveland who is playing with house money.
Chances of this happening? Not very good,but there is your road map to a miracle...

Late fade leaves Cavaliers down 3-0

The Cleveland Cavaliers were thrown on the shoulders of LeBron James and Kyrie Irving and through the efforts of Cleveland's top stars,the Cavaliers looked to have an excellent chance of making the series with the Golden State Warriors,well an actual series.
That was before either A) fatigue set in,B) the supporting players couldn't step up,C) Both.
In the end,it was the Warriors pulling away with under a minute to play,winning 118-113 and taking a three game lead in the series.
LeBron James scored 39 points with Kyrie Irving adding 38 more in the loss that likely essentially ended the series.
Game four is Friday night in Cleveland...

Swashbucklings

1) As much as we all (and they) want to believe that fatigue was not a factor late in the game,LeBron James and Kyrie Irving were clearly gassed out.
Their late shots were falling short and who can blame them after playing 46 and 44 minutes respectively.
You can't really ask or expect for any more than those two players gave,but something tells me that the Cavaliers fired their best shot and it wasn't enough.

2) Looking for an underrated reason for the Cavalier loss?
Try the late second quarter rush that saw the Warriors scored ten straight points that was only trimmed by Kyrie Irving's points as the last shot of the quarter.
I know that was the only two minute stretch that LeBron James sat out,but pretty crucial points were lost...

3) J.R.Smith finally woke up with a 16 point game and hitting five three's,but none of the bench players hit double figures and the total bench barely made there with just 11 points.
The supporting players have been such a letdown in this series..

4) Kyle Korver did hit two three pointers,which is why he was brought to Cleveland,but his miss late in the game on a pretty clean look at the basket cleared the way for the late Warrior win.
I know Korver is a one dimensional player,but shooting is that one dimension...

5) Cleveland missed all nine of their shots in the final 3 minutes of the game.

6) Devon Williams has yet to make a basket in this series.
No wonder Kyrie Irving has to play so many minutes,the role players that the Cavaliers added to give them a chance vs the Warriors have yet to make themselves present in the series.

7) Tristan Thompson continues his struggles as he finished the game without a point and just three rebounds in 23 minutes on the floor.
No one expects points from Thompson,but he is even struggling on the boards,which is supposed to be his strength..

8) Kevin Love did finish with just nine points (1-9),but did grab 13 rebounds and six steals,which for a player not noted for his defense is a strong number.
The biggest Love miss was a inside the paint miss that he might have been fouled on,but missed and the Warriors took the ball right down the floor for a Stephen Curry layup.
Huge momentum swing.

9) Finally this-No team has ever come from a 3-0 deficit to win any playoff series in basketball history and against one of the greatest teams to play ever,it's unlikely to this time either.
Cleveland needs to take things bit by bit and see what happens.
There is no margin for error,but that is how the game must be played from here on out.

Cavaliers dusted in Game One

The Cleveland Cavaliers played a decent enough first half in Oakland in game one of the NBA Finals,yet still were down eight points at the half.
The Cleveland Cavaliers lost their defensive edge in the second half and were dominated in third quarter action,putting themselves out of the game and losing to the Golden State Warriors 113-91.
LeBron James led Cleveland with 28 points with Kyrie Irving adding 24 more.
Game two is Sunday in Oakland.

Swashbucklings

1) It all came down to the boardwork and you'd never know it by the numbers.
The stat sheet had Cleveland outrebounding Golden State 59-50,but it seemed like much of that advantage was accumulated in garbage time.
Cleveland seemed to lose every loose ball and every contested rebound and just seemed to be almost passive with every missed shot.

2) The Warriors are too good to give so many second chances.
Tristan Thompson finished with just four rebounds and zero points,if that is the type of statistics that we can expect from Thompson,it's going to be very tough for Cleveland to win this series.
Fortunately,I don't think that will be the case.

3) Ok,Kevin Durant finished with 38 points.
Kevin Durant will also be tough to stop,but something tells me that we've seen his best game.
Call it a hunch,but I have a feeling he's going to have a clunker or even two over the course of this series.

4) Kyrie Irving did finish with 24 points,but did that on shooting 10 for 24 on the night.
Irving is going to have play better on both sides of the floor in order to close the gap from game one to game two.

5) 20 turnovers for Cleveland and just four for the Warriors.
Contrast that with the 27-9 difference in transition points and you can see how this got ugly early in the third quarter.

6) Next to nothing from the bench,most notably three point gunner Kyle Korver,who did see key minutes before the game got out of hand.
Korver was 0-3 for the evening and had major issues defending.

7) I didn't love the officiating,same as many that watched the game,but the soft defense that allowed so many easy drives to the basket was far more influential in this loss than anything the officials did.
I can live with losing this series with Golden State shooting well from the outside-I cannot live with it allowing them to beat them with dunks and dishing off layups from inside the paint....

Round Three

Tomorrow night,round three of the Cleveland Cavaliers-Golden State Warriors begins and once again,most observers like the Warriors to win the series.

I'm not saying that I would make Cleveland the favorite over the Warriors,but I think that the odds are clearly far too lopsided at two and a half to one.
I like Cleveland for two reasons.
One- For all of the hype about the greatness of the Warriors players,Cleveland has the best player.
When all is equal or even close to equal-The team with the best player usually wins.

Two-Don't underestimate Mike Brown.
By that,I mean that you don't underestimate the ability of Mike Brown to lose games that they should.
We will see if Mike Brown has learned from past mistakes.

Cleveland will need to play with the type of passion that they have played with in the playoffs and not fall back into the lackadaisical play that often marked their regular season play.
Kevin Love is going to be a huge factor with his improved play and his three point shooting might well be the difference.

I'll go with my heart and say Cleveland in seven,but Golden State winning would not stun me,unless GS slashed to a four or five game victory,which would surprise me.
I'm looking forward to this one.

Back tonight with some more fun stuff that I have been planning...

Warriors sink Cavaliers in game four

When crunch time came,the Cleveland Cavaliers were found wanting as the Golden State Warriors dominated much of the second half,as the Warriors outscored Cleveland by 16 points and won a 108-97 decision in Cleveland.
Kyrie Irving finished with 34 points and LeBron James added 25 more,but in the fourth quarter,both would come up wanting.
Cleveland now trails three games to one and must sweep the final three games to win the series...

Swashbucklings

1) Just painful to write these notes and I'm trying to not be too negative.
However,this was just a game that saw the Cavaliers get outhustled.
Every loose ball and hustle play went to the Warriors,they paid the price to win and on the hustle side of the game,it was Golden State taking command..

2) Kyrie Irving made half his shots and scored his 34,but I thought he was still caught in a scoring duel with Stephen Curry and was playing out of control.
However,for whatever those criticisms were,at least Irving,as misguided as it often was,was aggressive on the floor-that's more than I can say for...

3) LeBron James stat line looks good (25,13 and 9),but stats can say whatever you want them to say.
I thought LeBron was far too passive,wasn't nearly as effective as usual when driving the lane and didn't show a lot of passion until his little spat with Draymond Green.

4) Tristan Thompson played well,but once again,the lousy free throwing shooting (0 for 5) makes him such a liability in close games.
Thompson did play tough down low and he brings so much inside energy to the team,but it's tough to keep a guy in the lineup that is that bad in shooting free throws..

5) The heralded return of Kevin Love brought 11 points in 25 minutes.
In other words,not a large impact...

6) Interesting stat from Sam Amico-in the second half,LeBron James and Kyrie Irving 33 shots from the floor.
The rest of the Cavaliers?Five...

7) I think that this ends the season,I still have slim hope,but in reality,the team with the most wins ever are not likely to lose three in a row and two of those at home.
I'll have a post in the off season on potential changes,but for tonight-this one hurts.
Bad.

Staying Alive-Cavaliers rebound over Warriors

The Cleveland Cavaliers needed to hold serve,if they were to have any chance of winning the NBA championship and they did just that as they rolled over the Golden State Warriors in game three 120-90 in Cleveland.
LeBron James scored 32 points with Kyrie Irving adding 30 with J.R.Smith tossing in 20 more.
Golden State leads the series two games to one with game four Friday night in Cleveland.

Swashbucklings

1) Cleveland had to have this game and they played like the team that needed it rather than wanted it.
The Cavaliers took the game to the Warriors and outhustled them.
Cleveland needs to play like this,they don't shoot as well as the Warriors and can't afford to come out flat...

2) The scene was set early when the Cavaliers scored the first nine points of the game and outscored the Warriors by 17 for the quartet.
Did Golden State make a run? Sure and trimmed the lead to eight at the half,but I never felt like the Warriors were ever really in this game.

3) Tristan Thompson was very valuable in the win with 14 points and 13 rebounds.
One cannot expect Thompson to post similar numbers every game,but in this one,he was explosive on the inside and he did one thing that he doesn't always do.
Often,Thompson will grab an offensive board and kick the ball out,in this one,Thompson was much more offensively aggressive and put the ball right back up...

4) Big elephant in the arena-How does Kevin Love fit back in,if he can return for game four?
Considering the way Richard Jefferson has played in this series,could Love benefit by coming off the bench and being the top option among the second unit?
I'm not positive that would work out,but it might and if so,the Cavaliers might see a huge payoff...

5) Nice to see some production from J.R.Smith,who had struggled in the Oakland games,but drilled five three pointers in this win.
Smith is usually only helpful on the offensive end,so when the shots aren't falling,Smith can be a drag on the team..

6) Klay Thompson said he thought the collision with Timofey Mozgov that sent him from the game was a dirty play.
I didn't see it that way.I certainly thought Mozgov committed a foul,but it looked like a pick to me-not a dirty play.

7) Stephen Curry had a big third quarter,but was otherwise quiet in scoring 19 points.
Combine that with Klay Thompson's ten in smaller minutes and Cleveland continues to control the Splash Brothers.
Curry finished the first half with just two points...

8) So,can Cleveland win game four and tie the series up to swing the pressure back to the Warriors?
Yes,Home court has meant and will continue to mean so much,but they are going to have to come up with another superlative effort.
It'll be interesting to see how Kevin Love is brought back into the offense and can the defense keep up its strong play?
See you Friday...

Destroyed-Cavaliers lose game two

Face it-sports has a way of humbling you.
It sure humbled me as I thought the Cleveland Cavaliers were sitting on a win in game two of the NBA Finals and instead came up with one of the most pathetic performances that you could find as the Golden State Warriors crushed the Cavaliers 110-77 to take a two games to none lead.
LeBron James led Cleveland with 19 points with Richard Jefferson adding 12 off the bench to "Lead" Cleveland.
Game three is in Cleveland Wednesday night and the season might be on the line as no team maybe in the history of the game is beating the Golden State Warriors four games in a row....

Swashbucklings

1) I am so mad right now.
Not because the Cavaliers lost and not because I was wrong,but because the effort was so bad..
I hate to use the word quit very often in sports because it's an easy word to use and a hard word to prove.
However,that's how I see it.
Roll over,Beethoven and....Never mind...

2) In no way,shape or form am I blaming the referees for this loss.
However,the Warriors were getting away with a lot of physical play that just wasn't getting called.
I would guess that changes in Cleveland.

3) Five of twenty three from three point range?
That isn't going to win in November against Brooklyn,let alone Golden State in June.

4) Kevin Love elbowed in the back of the head like Dusty Rhodes used to hit Ric Flair with and no call?
Love might not be available for game three,but he wasn't playing that well before the injury with a two for seven for the floor for 5 points.

5) Kyrie Irving finished with just ten points,clanking jumpers and recklessly pumping up shots.
I stand by with nights like this-Irving is a shooting guard playing point guard.

6) Richard Jefferson played well off the bench and showed some energy to deserve more PT in game three,but where was Channing Frye?
Frye played just four minutes.

7) Sam Amico in the Amico Report is starting to question this version of the big three remaining together at this rate.
Would you trade 10 years of Kyrie Irving for 4 of Chris Paul,if it meant a title?
Think about it...

Warriors pull away in game one

The Golden State Warriors used a huge kick from their bench early in the fourth quarter to blow by the Cleveland Cavaliers and win game one of the NBA Finals 104-89 in Oakland.
Kyrie Irving led Cleveland in scoring with 26 points,while LeBron James (23 and 12) and Kevin Love (17 and 13) each notched triple doubles in defeat.
Game two is back in Oakland Sunday night...

Swashbucklings

1) The Cavaliers made a big run in the third quarter to come back from nine down to take the lead for a few minutes,but it always felt to me that it was temporary.
Sometimes teams use up their gas to get back into the game and that is exactly how I felt when that run was going on...

2) The Warriors bench carried the day on a night that the Cavaliers shut down Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson,as the Golden State bench outscored Cleveland's 45-10.
Shaun Livingston was the star with 20 points.
Cleveland doesn't have to win that battle,but the margin has to be closer.

3) I remember when Shaun Livingston came out of college as a super talented player and began suffering knee injuries that turned him from a franchise level player to a role player.
Livingston showed last night how injuries had robbed him as he was the best player on the floor.
Every generation has a few players like Livingston,but even fewer make the transition to not being the focus of the team..

4) Kyrie Irving did score 26 points ,but did so on 7 of  22 shooting.
All too often,Irving would take the defender to the hoop on borderline out of control rushes and then be forced into a awkward position against the Warrior big men.
Irving is going to have to mix his offensive tactics or this could be a long series.

5) You have to look at this as a mixed opportunity.
Yes,you would like to think the Cavaliers could win when Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson combined for 20 points,but is it possible that the Cavaliers have seen a flaw and the defense could have discovered a way to slow them down?
If so,perhaps the Cavaliers can win this after all...

6) J.R.Smith disappeared three points and three shots in 36 minutes of play.
Going to have to get more than that from the mercurial Smith...

7) I was disappointed in the lack of ball movement by Cleveland.
Cleveland has to keep the ball moving or the Cavaliers are going to be caught in the trap of James and Irving in isolation,which results in a very one dimensional team...

8) Finally,the Cavaliers win game two.
If they don't they are in big trouble,but I think they will.
The media scrutiny of game one will certainly be pro-Warriors and I think LeBron James will feed off that and lift Cleveland to a win.
At least I hope....